Oyster-shucking apparatus.



No. 880,222. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908. W. KLINGB.

OYSTER SHUOKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1907. v

2 SHEBTSSHEBT lnl HII Wazzzm-mw PATENTED FEBJ25; 1908.

W. KLINGE. OYSTER SHUGKING APPARATUS. AIPPLIOATION FILED NOV. 23, 1907.

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I lowing is a speclfication.

U'mTEn srrnrns PATENT, onnrcn.

WILLIAM KLINGE, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or commem- ASSIGNOit or ONE-HALF 'ro JAMES McMANUS, or WASHINGTQN, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

ovarian-emanate APPARATUS.

mgton,in the District of Columbia-have invented new and useful Improvements in Oyster-Shucking Apparatus, of which the fol- This invention relates to an oyster shuck mg apparatus, the objectof the invention being to provide a simple, efficient, and comparatively inexpensive construction ofapparatusof this character which may be conveniently o erated, which is adapted to act equall' we upon large and small oysters,

'- 4, the parts being additionally and w ereby the e eration of shucking oysters may be rapid y and economically performed.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and. claimed, reference bei had to the accompanying drawings, .in w 'ch:

Fi re 1 is a side elevation of an oyster shuc apparatus embodying my invention. 2 is a topplan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a supporting frame, which may be of any preferred form and construction, but which is preferably composed of angle iron and comprises a base 2 from which rise four corner standards or uprights 3 connected at their up pere'nds' by a top or head plate tied or connected in any desired manner. As shown, the top plate has a slight downward and forward inclination, and cross-bracesb connect the front and rear standards at each side of and movable clamps 6 and 7. ary clamp 6 lar body disposed at the the frame.

The oysters are des1gned to be individually treated and to be clamped during the shacking operation between relatively stationary The stationcompri'ses a cross piece extending between the front standards below the forward edge of thetop plate 4, which latter is provided in said edge with a recess 8 for the free downward movement of the splittingkniie, hereinafter described, while the movable clamp 7 comprises a partially circufront of the machine and reinforced by strengthening flanges 9 and .10. The said movable clamp is arranged for'use at. the front of the machine Specification of Letters ?atent. I Application filed November 23. 1907- Serial No. 403.47%

Patented. Feb. 25, 1908.

for movement between the front corner standards and is provided at its upper end with a shelf 11 to support the oyster and with a retaining flange or series of retaining fingers 12 projecting over the shelf to retain the oyster in engagement therewith.

In practice, the oyster is laid upon'the shelf with its butt or hinged end inward and bearing on the clamp 6 and its thin or month end outward and disposed beneath the retaining flange or fingers 1-2, the oyster being held at an inclination for the proper operation thereon of the splitting and severing knives, as hereinafter described.

The movable clamp normally inclines outwardly at its upper. end, by which a space of sufficient size is provided for the reception of the largest oyster between the stationary clamp'and retaining fingers, and its lower end is beveled and rests upon the upper surface of a beveled operating block or wedge 13 mounted for sliding movement in guides 14 on the front portion of the base 2.

The said lower end 0 the movable clamp carries at each side a guide pin 15 arranged for vertical move'ignent in a slot 16 in the adjacent st-andarplfiy which the clamp is pivotally mounted for, an inward and outward swing as well as an upward and downward" sliding movement, the upper end of the clamp being supported and limited in outward movement by links 17 having hooked end's 18 to engage pins or projections 19 thereon.

After the oyster is placed upon the sup porting shelf 11, the movable clamp is adjusted to a greater or less degree, according to the size of the'oyster, to clamp the oyster between the same and the stationary clamp 6, with the buttend of the oyster disposed below the aprtured projecting edge of the The means for effecting this top wall 4. ad'ustment comprises linl: curved and a compoundly curved ivot-ally connected with the movable clamp, as at 21, and its lower rearwardly curved end similarly connected with a pin or bolt 22 movable in an inclined slot 23 in 'the wedge block 13. Between its reversely curved ends or arms the lever is formed with a longitudinal slot 24 engaging v a pivot pin 25 on the adjacent standard, by which said link is permitted to swing forwardly and rearwardly and to he 'adjusted 20, having its upper end outwardly- With the pin 22 or with the block 13 is a vertically with the movable clamp. To the pin 22 is also connected one end of an operating lever 26 pivotally mounted below the link and having its opposite end extending beyond the frame to form a foot piece by Which it may be depressed. Also connected of the oyster into engagement with the fixed a pivot bolt 32 .whose slot receives a clamp 6, while the Wedge in such action will at the same time elevate the movable clamp, by which the butt end of the oyster willbe forced up into engagement with the projecting edge of the top wall, thereby firmly clamping the oyster in position to be operated upon by the knives.

A bar 28 is mounted to slide vertically between the braces 5 and through guide openings in the top wall 4 and a lower guide member 29, and is provided at its upper end with a forwardlyprojecting arm or head 30 to which is hinged or pivoted a splitting knife 31. As shown, the knife andhead are formed with knuckles through which passes provided at one end with aclamp nut 33, whereby the bolt is retained in position. The knife has end and normally inclines forwardly and downwardly and is adapted to be moved downwardso that its pointed end will strike and sever the j oint'hinge of the oyster shell and partially separate the halves of the shell at the butt. A lever 34 is pivotally mounted intermediate its length upon a pivot pin or,' bolt 35 carried by the head 30 and is held in position thereon by a thumb nut 36. The n per end I of the lever is formed toprovi e a handle, while its lower end'has a downturned slotted portion 37,

guide infor bolt 38 on t is \threaded to the knife, which pin or be receive a clamping nut 38. and extends outwardly at one side of the knife to providea contact arm 39.

By means of the lever the knife may be adjusted to properly position it to operate upon large or small oysters, the slotted connection between the bolt 38 and part 37 adapting the knife and lever to respectively move in proper arcs for relative adjustment.

After the knife is adjusted, the thumb nut 36 is tightened to a sufficient degree to hold the knife firmly enough against movement to prevent deflection thereof when striking the joint of the oyster, but not to such an extent as to prevent a forward swing movement of the knife under a definite degree of pressure thereon. The knife is adapted to be operated a lower pointed 1 ing motion to the knife and slide.

oysters varying in through the medium of a lever 40 intermediately pivoted upon a pin or bolt 41 carried by the bar 28 and movable in a vertical slot- 42 in the adjacent cross brace or plate 5, the lever also being provided with a slot in which the bolt is free to move to allow the lever to swing in its-proper arc, whereby when the forward end of the lever is depressed the knife will be forced downwardly to penetrate andsever the hinge joint of the oyster against the resistance of a weight or-its equivalent 44 upon the rear end of the lever, by which the parts are returned to normal position.

It willbe understoodfrom the foregoing description that by the mechanism thus far described the oyster may be clamped in position and the hinge joint connecting its shell sections severed and the-halves of the shell partially separated at the butt. In addition,

devices are provided for prying 0H ,the upper shell and severing the same from the body of the oyster, leaving'the latter within the lower half of the shell retained upon the shelf of the movable clamp. These devices consist of a prying and severing knife 45 fixed to and projecting laterally fromaplate 46 slidably mounted upon the top plate of the frame and having an inclined or cam surface 47 adapted to engage the contact 39 The slide 46 is re tracted' and held in normal position by a spring 48 and is pivotally connected with an operatinglever 49, as at 50, the lower end of said lever bein pivotally connected with the adjacent undeflying cross brace 5. The knife 45 has a forward beveled cutting edge and a compjratively long rearwardly extending shan 51 which slidesin guides 52 on the top plate; The slide 46 and the knife are fixedly connected for movement in unison, and afterthe knife 31 has been employed to open the shell oftheoyster at the jointand partly separate the shell sections, moved forwardly transmitting cor'res ondclined edge 47 'of the slide will bear upon and engage the contact 39 and forcibly swing the knife 31 out of the path of the edge of the knife 45, which I will engage. the edge of the upper half'of the partia shell, sever the same rojecting f the lever 49 is y severed' from the body ofthe Te inoyster, leaving the latter upon the lower shell half, and discharge the upper shell'halffrom the machine. Upon the'release of the lever 49 the parts will be restoredjto normal position ready-for the succeeding operation.

From the foregoing description, the construction and mode of paratus will be readily understood, and it operation of the ap-- will be seen that it provides a'device by which size may be conveniently and expeditiously shucked.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is z- 4 1. An oyster shut-king apparatus comprising a frame, oyster clamping means carried thereby, means for severing the shell sections at the oint, and means for stripping away one of said shell sections. i

2. An oyster shucking apparatus compris- '5 ing a'frame, oyster clamping meanscarried thereby, an adjustable knife for severing the shell sections of the oyster at the joint, operating means for said knife, a device operative to engage and strip away one of the shell sections, and means for operating the same.

3. An oyster shucking apparatus compris ing a frame, oyster clamping means carried thereby, a splitting knife for severing the shellsections of the oyster at the hinge joint, means for operating said knife, a severing knife for engaging and stripping away'one of the shell sections, and means for operating said stripping knife' 4. An oyster shucking apparatus compris' ing a frame, oyster clamping means carried exposure of the hinge joint thereof, a knife operative to sever said joint and separate-the.

"shell sections at the butt, a" second knife operative to enter between the separated tion away from the oyster,- z-ioperating the respective knives.

5. An oyster shuckin apparatus comprising a frame, means for olding an oyster to be shucked, means for splitting the hinge joint of the shell, and means. for removlng one of the shell sections. I

I 6. An oyster shuckin "apparatus comprising a frame, means for 01 ing an oyster to be shucked, a knife operative for splitting the hinge joint of the shell, a second knife movable past the first-named knife and adapted Q to engage and strip away one of the shell sections, and operating means for successively actuating said knives.

7. An oyster shucking apparatus comprising a frame, clamping means for holding an 1 oyster inv an inclined position with end of the shell uppermost, a knife or splitting the hinge jo-in't, guiding and o ratin I thereby adapted to hold the oyster for the.

portions of the shell and strip one shell secand means for e jointed remove one of'the shell secknife' movablepast the splitting knife to en gage and strip away one of the shell sections,

means for operating said stripping knife, and

means coactin with said strippin knife for moving the spitting knife-out of t e path of motion thereof. 7

9. An oys'ter shuokin apparatus comprising a frame, means for c amping an oyster in an inclined position with the jointed end of the shell uppermost, a pivotally supported.

adjustable splitting knife movable in a path -to split the hinge joint, means for adjusting and operating said knife, a sliding knife movable across the path of the splitting knife and adapted to engage and strip away the upper shell section, and .means for o crating said sliding knife, said meansinclud for moving the splitting knife oiit of the path of the severing knife. i

ing a device 10. Anoyster shucking apparatus comprising a frame carrying a stationary clamp, a cooperating clamp mounted for swinging movement towards and from said stationary clamp and sliding movement in a vertical plane, means for actuating said'movable clamp, a splitting knife forsevering the hinge joint of the oyster held by the clamp, means for operating said knife, and a severing knife for stripping away one of the shell sections of the oyster, and operating means for said severing knife including means for adjusting the splitting knife out of the path thereof. i

11. In an oyster shucking machine, means for clamping an oyster, an adjustable knife for splitting the hinge joint of the oyster shell, a severing knife for stripping away one of the sections of the oyster shell, said knives being movable in intersecting paths, and operating means for said knives including means for moving one out of the path 'of the. i other.

12. In an oyster shucking machine, a

frame carrying a stationary clampingmed? ber, a pivotally mounted coacting clamping member, said clamping members being adapted to hold an'oyster in an inclined position with the hinge joint of the same adjacent the stationary clamp, a splitting knife movable in an inclined path to sever the joint, a severing knife movable in a different path to strip away the upper shell section of the oyster, and means for operating the knives.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM KLINGE.

Witnesses JOHN L. FLETCHER, C. C. HINES. 

